Gender and Mental Health in STEM: Insights from Female Students’ Experiences

• In Event: Open Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 15: Education and Inequality

Abstract

This nationwide study, conducted with a sample of approximately 3,500 STEM college students, examines gender disparities in mental health. Mental health, which refers to an individual’s perception of their mental and psychological well-being, is a critical predictor of academic success and persistence in STEM programs. This study investigates how mental health differs between male STEM students and their female peers, and examines the various college experiences that influence this self-concept for each group.
This study is guided by the following research questions: (1) How does mental health change over the four years of college among STEM students, and how do these changes vary by gender? (2) Which college experiences are associated with improved mental health outcomes for STEM students across gender groups?

Author

• Linda Cho, Whitney High School